The UK talking about middle class New Yorkers - I could live off the interest of the net worth captured in that picture.
Anyway, I feel like I'm teaching kindergarten just saying this, but look at the big picture. Possibility A, what I believe to be the more likely scenario, those people are getting off by doing it to make a statement or as a matter of hobbit-principle, in which case the pansies can eat garbage with my blessing. Possibility B, it's actually what they consider to be the most profitable use of their time. Very unlikely in this case and if they can't figure out a better gig but feel the need to enjoy a high-cost-of-living area they're beneath pity, but it does happen that one does well to be creative and doff ones pride/hygine to subsist. I mean, it's what they want us to think anyway, so lets take the bait.
Work all day, still can't pay
Thus, in this sorry state of affairs, one is best disposed to make ends meet by working and scrounging. Scrounging is inefficient, people have got by in the past by just working, so what's wrong with working now? As it turns out, the EPA and organized labor terrorized the steel mills out of business and much of the rest of American industry/manufacturing went similarly and/or consequentially. Democrats say we've each got to take care of 1/3 of someone else so a paycheck don't do all that much for you. To cover their tracks they blame a little armed conflict and refund-stimuli - **** that wouldn't make a dent in the funds of a competently run nation. How terrible - good thing the garbage-eaters brought it to our attention - something must be done about this...